Slicing machine



Nov. 24, 1925 W. H. DONALD y sLIcING MACHINE:

Filed Dec. 14. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov, 24, 1925.

lJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLAl/L H. DONALD, F CINGTNNATE, OHEO, ASSIGNOR TO THE F. A. KNOVLES `SLICIER CCIwTPANY, Gl? CEINCENNATI. (J1-IIC), A, CORPORATTON OF OHIOL SLICING MACHINE.

Application tiled December lll, 1923.

To ZZ 107mm t may concer/n x Be it known that l, VILLIAM H. DONALD, a Canadian subject of the King of Great Britain, residingl at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State ot Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulk Improvements in Slicingl hitachines, of which the following' is a specification.

illy invention relates to machines for slicing meat and other cdibles, in general,

and more particularly to the kind disclosed and claimed in my Patents No. 1,362,855, dated December 21, 1920 and No. 1,437,14t5, dated November 6, 1923, upon which the prese-nt invention is an improvement.

lts object, like those inventions, is to make such a machine simple of construction, convenient to use an-d to keep clean, and re liable and accurate in operation and not readily deranged in its use or by tampering. An object peculiar to the present in* vention is to permit the ready release of the carrier from its driving,- mechanism at the end of feeding, and, preferably, to etl l attain these objects by the device illustrated, for example, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the 1na- 'chine with part of the top broken away and omitted to reveal the interior details;

Fig. 2 is a left-eno elevation with part of the casing; end broken away and omitted to reveal the interior details;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial plan view corresponding to Fig. 1 partly in horizontal section on th'eplane ofthe line F5-3 of l? Q;

Fig'. l is a partial front elevation of the Serial No, 680,652.-

machine, on the scale of Fig'. 3, with the front of the casing,l and other parts at the extreme front omitted to reveal the interior details; and

Fig. 5 is a partial front-to-rear vertical cross-section on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. d, better illustrating the shield and associated parts.

The base 1 is rect-angular, supporting the casing 2 of similar shape with a removable top 3 having: the cutter-bar 4. along,` its front edge. `The top` 5, which preferably is a slab of sanitary ware, such as porcelain, enameled metal or the like, is set down in the top of the frame on suitable transverse supports 6 with cushioningl material 7, such as rubber or th-e like, bet-ween the top 5 and these supports 6. This permits thev ready removal of the top 5 for access to the interior of the casing, or for cleaning the top and the adjacent parts of the frame.

The upper edges of the lateral sides of the casino,` 2 are recessed for most of their lengths, leaving the slots S underk the, edges of the top 5 and frame top 3. The rear part of the casing is lower thanthe top 5, and contains the cutter actuatingmechanism comprising a sleeveQ journaled in a bracket 10 and in the front end of the casing 2, outside which itcarries a hollow arm 11 extendingl up with the cutter shaft 12 journaled in its upper end part and having lixed on said shaft the cutter 13 outside `the arm and the sj orocketA wheel 14rinside the arm, This arm also carries the e'uard 15 for the cutter 13, which is a dished disk swung very close to the cutterebar 4t by this armllv while being rotated. This rotation is effected through a. sprocket chain 16 passing around the wheel 14 and around a similar sprocket wheel 17 fixed on a shaft 18 inside the lower part of the arm 1l; this shaft 18 being journaled conccntrically in the sleeve 9 and having' fixed to it, outside the rear end of this sleeve 9, the bevel pinion 19 meshing with a. bevel gear 2O fired on the main driving shaft 21, which journaled from front to rear in the casing` 2, projecting out. at the front with abandwheel 22 fixed thereon', having a handle 23 for driving the machine.

The swinging of the arm 11 is effected by n nil means of a fork 24 straddling and trunnioned on a collar 25 fixed to the sleeve t), and a pin 24 slidable in this fork and pivoted to the side of a spur gear 26 turning on a front-torear stud fixed in the front part of the casing. A spur pinion 27 ou the main driving shaft 21 meshes with this spur gear 26, and may be fixed for rotation with the shaft 21 or released therefrom by a stem 28 projecting out and having a knob 28 at the front of the hand-wheel 22, as fully set forth and claimed in my Patent No. 1,437,145 before mentioned. The above described cutter-driving mechanism is set forth and claimed in my Patent No. 1,362,- 855 before mentioned.

The carrier comprises a frame 29 of t-angular open formation, lying under the top 3, and guid-ed on the frame of the casing, where it has ears 3() extending out through the respective slots 3 at the front and rear sides of the casing 2. The 'ears 36 carry upright posts 31, on which is mounted a clamp or holder 32 Figs. 1 and 2) for holding the article to be sliced, such as meat or the like, to be carried forward toward the cutter 13 by the carrie This holder comprises hooks or prongs 3c to engage down against the article, which is supported below by a transverse element 32 connected to the posts 31 and slid along over the top 5 as fully disclosed in my prior patents mentioned, or may be constructed otherwise as is well known in the art.

This carrier also comprises a bracket 33 extending down from its frame 29, with a front guide 34 slidingly embracing the screw 35 and a rear nut 36 meshing with he thread of this screw, which latter is journaled lengthwise of the machine in bearing bars 3'? and 33 lined inside the casing 2 near its top, at ythe front and rear ends, respectively.

This screw 35 is somewhat forward from the spur gear 26 that swings the cutter, and up from the center thereof, and has pinned on it the ratchet wheel 39 with teeth directed for driving the screw 35 over forwardly, which screw, having a right-hand thread, drives the carrier to the left by vir tue of the meshing of the nut 36 with the thread. The spur gear 26 has at its front, clamped around its hub by a set screw 40,

a collar 41 on which is formed a cam sur` face 42 along the front convex edge of a curved rib of the collar. vThe gear ro tating over to the left as the handnheel 22 is turned over to the right, this cam surface 42 is so formed that it has its advanced end inclining outfrom the gear, forward, at a less rate than its folio fing end inclines in toward the gear; these oppositely inclined ends meeting in a cr vature or converzity, as before alluded to.

A lever 43 has a fulcrum 44 in a rib rising from the base 1, just forward of the gear 26 and close to the left end of the casing; and this lever comprises a short lower forwardly extending arm 45 with a. rounded front end engaging up against the bottoni of a plunger 46 sliding vertically in another rib of the bas-e 1, directly under the screw 35 where it projects to its left end bearing` bar 37. A tension spring 4h is stretched from the upper' part of the plunger guiding rib down to the lower arm 45 of the lever 43; this spring holding the long upper arm 48 of the lever back toward the gear 26, where 'this arm has a roller 49 to bear against the cam surface 42 as th-e cam rib, passing down at the left, pushes the lever arm 43 forward against the tension of the spring 47. This arm 4S projects up above the ratchet wheel 39, being suitably curved so that its upper end may swing back over the gear 26 at the left thereof, and has pivoted to its upper end the link 50, extending forvard close to the left end of the casing 2 and being pivoted to the upper end of the pawl arm 51 which turns loosely on the screw 35 next to the bearing 37. A pawl 52 is pivoted on this pawl arm 51 and is held down, forward, against the ratchet wheel teeth by a small tension spring 53 stretched from the pawl down to the hub of the pawl arm 51. The lever 43, as it is pushed forward by the cani surface 42, rotates the screw 35 until the cam surface passes the lever roller 49 and permits the lever to swing backward under the action of the spring 4T, resetting the pawl on the ratchet teeth for the next stroke. Thus at each reciprocation of the pawl 52, the screw 35 is rot-ated through a partial revolution and advances the carrier toward the cutter; the rate of this feeding being according to the effective stroke of the pawl in engagement with the ratchet teeth.

I prefer to vary the 'effective action of the pawl on the ratchet wheel by two means, actuated in unison. Thus, a shield is of disk shape, with a long hub 55 around the screw 35, and has its peripheral edge 56 at the 'left beveled; the hub 55 ext-ending to the right and the ratchet wheel 39 being at the left of the shield, toward which, along a part of its periphery, the shield has a seg mental flange 57 projecting, interrupting the bevel of the edge and having its outer peripheral surface continuous with the unbeveled part of the shield periphery. These peripheral surfaces are at such a radius that a roller 53, journaled on an extension of the pawl 52, riding up on and engaging with either one of these neripheral parts of the shield, will lift the pawl 52 away from the ratchet wheel 39 and render the carrier feeding mechanism inoperative. This shield also carries, just at its left, thc cam part 59, extending for about half the circumferliO Sli

:itil

ence of the shield and having'its periphery approxiinatelyspiralV relatively to the shield anis; and this cam part 59 lies over andengages its peripheral edge `withthe upper' end of the plunger 46, so that as the shield st is rotated this spiral cani part 59 will stop the plunger 46, and consequently the backward swing of the ratchetsdriving lever e3, earlier or later accordingly as a point of the cam part at greater or lesser radial distance from the shield axis engages with the plunger.

This shield 5l, in addition to being rotatable with respect to the screw 35, is slidable therealong; the screw being reduced in diaineter to receive this shield as well as the ratchet wheel and pawl arm, leaving a shoulder 60 at the right of the shield hub 55, which is engaged by the hub, stopping righthand sliding of the shield when this shield is pushed to the right by a spring 6l coiled around the screw and compressed between the shield and the ratchet wheel 39. In this position, the shield has its flange 57 in the path of the roller 58," to lift the pawl v52 away from the ratchet wheel; but the main peripheral part of the shield is out of reach of this roller unless theshield is pressed to the left, against the pressure of the spring 61, whereupon the roller 58 will pass out upon this main part across the beveled edge 56 thereof. Preferably, thev adjacent end 62 of the roller 58 also is beveled, to facilitate this passage of the roller axially onto the` shield periphery.

The carrier and v.its bracket 38 are so proportioned lwith respect tothe cutter `1,3 and cutterbar 4C that 4when "the-carrier has advancedthe article far.enough for the last possible slice to'be .cut therefrom, the left end of the guide "3d ofthe carrier bracket pushes 'the shield 54 to1tlieleft by engagement with the right handend `of the shield hub 55.

For conveniently impartingto the. shield 5ft and its camv partf59 their .rotary adjustnient, and for holding them'in their vadjusted position, a bevel gear 69 issplinedito the shield hub by a key 64, and this 'gear has its hub 65 journaled in abracket 66 'proj ecting back from the upper part of the front of the casing 2; being held `by said bracket 66 against axial movement whenthe shield is moved axially. A bevel' pinion 67 'is fined 'on the rear end ofa spindle'68 journaled horizontallythrough the casing front; this .pinion meshing withthe bevely gear 63, and

the front end of the spindle 68, outside the-y bevel pinion' 6T l.to. jits spindle isextendedlout ofthe pinion hub, and a spring 72,v coiled aroundthe hub, is compressed between this pin and the rear of the spindle bearing; thus holding the dial 70 firmly back aga-inst the boss 7l, so that, by virtue of the friction between the dial and boss, the shield and its cam part are held in their adjusted position.

The radius of the am part 59 increases in direction opposite to that of turningof the screw 35; so that a rotation of the shield and this cam part oppositely to the rotation of the screw, swinging the flange 5T back from the pawl and thusy delaying the separation of the pawl from the ratchet wheel 39, also accon'iplishes a recession of the cam part periphery from the plunger 46, permitting it to rise farther,- and the lever e3 to swingback farther into the path of the cam surface 42, for effecting a longer stroke of the pawl 52. Preferably, these parts so proportioned that with any stroke afforded the pawl 52, the flange57 will be at a point at which the pawl roller 58 will merely ride up onto the front fend Iof the flange 57, readyto dropftlie pawl onto the ratchet teethivery early in the forward driving stroke, yet insuch a secure position on the flange that the pawl willibe held up thereby for `permitting' reverse turning of the screw 35, by means of a crank 73 `thereon outside the right `or rear end of the easing 2,'to runthe carrier back to -startingposition after it has been fed forward and stopped automatically by'its action on the shield yas Y vexcept whenthe pawl 52 is `forvi'ard off the shield -l'lange 57 againstthe ratchet teeth.

As this engagement of :the pawl exists only during the Arelatively short period whenthe cam surface 4t2, extending only a few degrees around the spur gearI 26, is engaging Vwith the `lever roller 4:9, it will beseen that it seldom will interfere with running the carrier back manually by means of thecrank 73; andv thenn it is necessaryionly to turn the ha1id\vheel 22 a small fractionof` airevolution to advance the cani surface 42 away from the lever roller Lt9 ,and allow the pawl to ride back up on the shield flange 57. Butat the next revolution of the gear 26, A,the pawl will engage and advance `the carrier, with the article thereon, toward .the cutter.

[The screw 35 may beturned forward v-niat- `ever the position of thepawl 52, so that, at

the beginning, after placing `the article on the carrier, itl may be advanced manually until close to the cutter 13, ready to be sliced at 4the first strokey of the cutter, Thus, the

forward or backward adjustment of the carrier for an article of any given length is readily accomplished without the aid of any special releasing device for the driving mechanism.

The machine now is ready for slicing from the article at any time; the thickness of the slices being readily yadjusted simply by turning the knob 69 over to the right for reducing or over to the left for increasing the thickness of the slices. As this variation of the feed of the carrier is effected not only by moving the shield flange 57 forward or backward, but by reducing` or increasing the permitted back swing of the lever 43 toward the cam surface 42, it will be seen that, with a reduced feed, the lever roller 49 is not permitted to engage with any more of the cam surface than is needed for the stroke required of the pawl for that feed, avoiding useless Wear of these parts, and unnecessary resistance to operation of the machine. At the same time, by having the shield flange 57 to separate the pawl from the ratchet wheel 39 at the end of each backward stroke, the screw 35 always is released during` most of each feeding and cutting cycle, for running the carrier back manually as iust described. Also, by having the shield 57 adjusted proportionately with the pawl stroke, the pawl always reengages with the ratchet wheel very early in its forward stroke, before it gains momentum apt to throw it outward and cause incomplete engagement of the pawl with the ratchet tooth.

When the carrier has carried the article toward the cutter until the last slice is removed, the carrier bracket guide part 34, at the neXt turning of the screw 35 by the ratchet driving device, pushes the shield 54 toward the ratchet wheel 39 and forces the pawl away from the ratchet wheel by engagement of the beveled edge 55 with the pawl roller 58, so that the pawl will now travel idly, with the roller rolling on the main peripheral part of the shield 54, throughout the pawl stroke, so that the feeding device now is inoperative, although the hand-wheel continues to be turned by the operator.

By having the hub 4l that carries the cam surface 42 adjustable axially along` the hub of the gear 26 by means of the clamping screw 40, the wear on the cam surface 42 and on the roller 49 and other parts of the feeding mechanism may be taken up, so that the feed may be maintained as originally designed, after the machine has been in use for a long period.

It will be noted that the axial movement of the shield 54 toward the ratchet wheel 39 is slight, relative to the diameter of the plunger 46 with which the cam part 59 of the shield engages, so that this cam part merely slides over a small portion of the top of the plunger 'when the axial movement occurs, without deranging this part of the mechanism.

It will be seen that the automatic stoppage at the end of feeding is accomplished by simple means, of ample strength and durability, without complicating the adiustment lfor slices of different thicknesses, which may be accomplished either while the machine is running or while it is stopped, simply by turning the dial knob G9 one way or the other, Also, because the pawl is held up by the shield flange 57, the screw 35 is not turned forward upon adiusting from thicker to thinner slicing. which would result in a slice of abnormal thickness iust after such adjustment in the absence of this provision.

lsfodiiications of my invention may occur, and while lf prefer certain details as disclosed, f do not wish to be understood as being limited to such precise disclosure, but

having fully described my invention, l

claim:

l. In combination, a carrier having a projecting member, feeding mechanism operatively related to said member comprising driving` means rotary on an axis alined with said member. and means disposed entirely in alinement with said carrier member along said axis, whereby said carrier renders said feeding mechanism inoperative after a predetermined degree of feeding.

2. In combination, a carrier having a pro jecting member, feeding mechanism operatively related to said carrier member comprising a ratchet and a pawl driving said ratchet, and means disposed entirely between said carrier member and said pawl, forced by said carrier member directly into engagement with said pawl, to hold said pawl out of operative relation to said ratchet after a predetermined degree of feeding.

3. In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism comprising a shaft having a threaded part engaging said carrier and a driving device for said shaft, and means movable axially on and embracing said shaft, forced by said carrier toward said driving device, whereby said carrier renders said driving device inoperative after a predetermined degree of feeding.

4. In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism comprising a screw operatively related to said carrier and a driving device for said screw and means movable axially of said screw whereby said carrier renders said driving device inoperative after a predetermined degree of feeding, said means having another movement, and means whereby this other movement varies the rate of feeding of said carrier.

5. In combination, a carrier, feeding meehanism operatively related to said lcarrier comprising a ratchet member, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet member, a shield to hold said pawl away from said ratchet member duringa` portion of the reciprocation of the pawl, and means to Vary the stroke of the pawl and adjust said shield along the stroke, in unison.

6. In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanisin operatively related to said carrier comprising a ratchet member, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet member, a shield having a part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet member during a portion of the reciprocationv of the pawl, and means to vary the stroke of the pawl and adjust said shield along the stroke, in unison, saidshield being movable toward said pawl and having another part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet member throughout the stroke of the pawl, when said `:shield is movedtoward said pawl.

7. ln combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism voperatively related to said; carrier comprising. a ratchet member, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging:saidy ratchet member, a shield having a part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet member during 'comprising a rotary ratchet1 member, a re-A ciprocating pawl drivinglyi engaging said ratcli'et'meinber, a shield-relatively to which said ratclietfinember'rotates movable towardIk said pawl and having a part to hold said pawl awayvv from said ratchet,` member throughout the stroke of the pawl, when said shield is moved toward said pawl.

9. In combination, a carrier, feedingfmechaiiisin operatively related'fto saidl carrier comprising arotary ratchet member, avrecipro'cating'-pawl drivinglyv engaging said ratchet member, a shield rela-tively to which said ratchet member rotates, movable ltoward said pawl and having a part to hold said pawl away from saidy ratchet shieldis moved toward said pawl, and means whereby said` carrier moves said shield toward said pawl after a predetermined-degree `of feeding.

10. In combination, mechanism comprising a rotary member having-a camsurface thereon,I and a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively related to saidacarrier comprising means engagedby saidcam surface for actuation of the feeding mechanism and member throughout the stroke of the pawl, when said means whereby said carrier renders said feeding mechanism inoperative `after Va predetermined degree of feeding, independently of the engagement of said cam surface. y

ll. In combination, mechanism comprising lav rotary member having a lcam surface thereon, and a carrier, feeding mechanism` operatively related to said carrier comprising a ratchet member, a reciprocatingpawl dri'vingly engaging said ratchet member, and i means engaged'by said cam surface for reciprocation of said `pawl, a shield having a part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet member during a portion ofthe reciprocation of the pawl, means to limit =the vde,- gree of engagement of said cam surface, to vary the stroke ofthefpawl, and to adjustsaid shield alongtlie stroke, inunison',L said shield beingmovable toward said `pawl and* havinganother part to holdthe pawl away from said ratchet member `throughout[theE stroke of the pawfl, when said shiel-dismoved* toward said' pawl, and means wherebylsaid carrier moves said 'shield toward saidpawl"` after. a predetermined degree offeeding.

12. lii combination, mechanismcomprising a`r'otary member having a cam surfacel thereon, and a carrier, feedii'igvfmechanisni comprising a screw operativelyl relatedto said carrier, a ratchet; wheel turning said.

screw, a pawl, mechanism `actuated by 1engagement of said cam surface whereby said pawl turns said ratchetwheeland screw, and means for varyingly limiting said en-4 gagement of said cam surface tovary the stroke of said pawl.

13. In combination, mechanism;comprise` ing aJrotary member having a cam surface thereon, and a carrier, feed-ingrmechanism` comprising a screw operatively related-to said carrier, a ratchet wheelrturning said screw, a pawl, mechanism actuatedby engagement of `said cam surface'whereby said pawl turns said ratchet'wheel and screw, aV shield adjustable 1 around Vsaid ratchetA wheel to hold sa-idipawl away from'said' ratchet wheel during a portion of the stroke of said pawl, and means for varyingly limit-.. ing said lengagement of said canisurfa'ce to vary the stroke ofthepawl. i

lll. In combination, mechanism comprising a rotary member having a cam surface thereon, and acarrier, feeding mechanism comprising a screw operatively related to said carrier, a ratchetl wheel turning said screw, a pawl, mechanism actuated by engagement of said cam surfaceiwhereby said pawl turns. saidratchet wheel and screw, a shield adjustable aroundsaid'ratchet wheel to-liold said pawl away from said'ratchet wheelduring a portion ofthe stroke of said paw-l, and means actuatedlin unison with the adjustmentof said shieldfor varyingly lim-2 iting said engagement Of said camsurface tovary the' stroke-of' the pawl;

-llO

CIT

l5, In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively related to said carrier comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet wheel, a shield to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the reciprocation of Jahe pawl, said shield being rotatable around said ratchet wheel, a bevel gear with which said shield is rotatable, and a bevel pinon meshing with said bevel gear.

16. In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively rela-ted to said carrier comprising a ratchetwheel, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet wheel, and a shield to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the reciprocation of said pawl, said shield being rotatable around said ratchet wheel and being movable axially and having a part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel throughout the stroke of the pawl, upon movement of said shield axially in one direction.

17. In combination with a support, and a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively related to said carrier comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet wheel, a shield to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the reciprocation of said pawl, said shield being rotatably around said ratchet wheel and being movable axially and having a part to hold said pawl away-fronr said ratchet wheel throughout the stroke of the pawl, upon movement of said shield axially in one direction, a bevel gear with which said shield is rotatable but which per? mits axial movement of the shield relatively to the gear, a bevel pinion meshing with said bevel gear, and fixed bearings for said gear and pinion on said support.

18. In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively related to said carrier comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet wheel, a shield to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the reciprocation of the pawl, said shield being rotatable around said ratchet wheel and being movable axially and having a part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel throughout the stroke of the pawl, upon movement of said shield axially in one direction, said shield having an extension engaged by said carrier to cause the axial movement of said shield.

19. In combination with a support, and a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively related to said carriei' comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet wheel, a shield to hold said pawl away from saidratchet wheel during a portion of the reciproca-tion of said pawl, said shield being rotatable around said ratchet wheel and being movable axially and having a part to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel throughout the stroke of the pawl, upon movement of said shield axially in one direction, a bevel gear with which said shield is rotatable but which permits axial movement of the shield relatively to the gear, a bevel pinion meshing with said bevel gear, and fixed bearings for said gear and pinion on said support, said shield having an extension engaged by said carrier to cause the axial movement of said shield.

20. In combination, mechanism comprising a rotary member having a cam surface thereon, and a carrier, feeding mechanism comprising a screw operatively related to said carrier, a ratchet wheel turning said screw, a pawl, mechanism actuated by engagement of said cam surface whereby said pawl turns said ratchet wheel and screw, a shield adjustable around said ratchet wheel to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the stroke of the pawl, a stop cam adjustable with said shield, and means whereby said stop cam varyingly limits said engagement of said cam surface to vary the strolie of the pawl.

2l. In combination, mechanism comprising a rotary member having a cam surface thereon, and a carrier, feeding mechanism comprising a screw operatively related to said carrier, a ratchet wheel turning said screw, a pawl, a lever having an arm carrying said pawl and engaged by said cam surface and having another arm, a plunger against said other arm, a spring engaging said -lever to move the lever toward said cam surface to be moved thereby in opposition to said spring whereby said pawl turns said ratchet wheel and screw, a shield adjustable around said ratchet wheel to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the stroke of the pawl, and a stop cam adjustable with said shield and engaging said plunger to limit movement of said lever toward said cam surface of said rotary member.

22. In combination, a carrier, feeding mechanism operatively related to said carrier comprising a ratchet wheel, a reciprocating pawl drivingly engaging said ratchet wheel, a shield adjacent to said ratchet wheel, a roller on said pawl engaging with one part of said shield to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel during a portion of the stroke of the pawl, said shield being movable axially toward said rachet wheel and having another part of extent to hold said pawl away from said ratchet wheel throughout the stroke of the pawl, and said roller having a receding edge whereby said roller passes onto said other part of the shield upon movement thereof axially toward said ratchet wheel. Y

23. A ratchet shield comprising a disk l il() llO having a beveled peripheral edge and having an axially extended flange along a part of its peripheral edge.

24. A ratchet shield comprising a disk having a beveled peripheral edge, and having an axially extended flange along part of its peripheral edge, and having a cam part spaced axially beyond said beveled edge from said flange.

25. A ratchet shield comprising a disk having a beveled peripheral edge, and having an axially extended flange along a part of its peripheral edge, and having a hub extending axially beyond said beveled edge from said flange.

Q6. fr ratchet shield comprising a disk having a beveled peripheral edge, and having an axially extended flange along a part of its peripheral edge, and having a hub extending axially beyond said beveled edge from said flange, and having a cam part between said beveled edge and said hub, spaced toward said hub away from said beveled edge.

2T. In combination, a ratchet wheel, a pawl, a roller on said pawl extending past one side of the ratchet wheel and having its extended edge beveled, and a shield comprising a disk having a beveled peripheral edge and having an axially extending flange along a part of its peripheral edge in the path of said roller as it travels with said pawl, adapted to hold said pawl away from the ratchet wheel when engaged by saidroller, and said shield being movable toward said ratchet wheel to move said pawl away from said ratchet Wheel when said beveled edge of said shield engages said beveled edge of said roller.

28. In combination with a carrier, mechanism comprising a rotary member having a hub, and feeding mechanism for said car-L rier comprising a member clamped on said hub for adjustment axially therealong, and means engaging with said member to be operated thereby, the wear of which is taken up by said adjustment.

29. In combination, a support having a top with a recess throughout its major eX- tent, and a removable top member lying in said recess, a carrier extending above and below said top member to carry an article along the upper surface of said top member, a cutter toward which the article is carried by said carrier, operating mechanism for said cutter, and feeding mechanism for said carrier, below said top and operatively connected to said carrier therebelow, the removal of said top member aflording access to said mechanisms, said top member lying loosely in said recess, and cushioning material supporting said top member in said recess.

30. In combination, a carrier, and feeding mechanism comprising a screw operatively related to said carrier and a ratchet driving device for said screw, and shield means whereby said carrier renders said driving device inoperative after a predetermined degree of feeding but whereby said screw continues to be operatively related to said carrier, said shield means being adapted to maintain said ratchet device inoperative during return of the carrier to starting position by rotation of said screw in reverse direction.

vWILLIAM I-I. DONALD. 

